Hadran: Advancing Talmud Study for Women
Hadran supports Jewish women of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels with resources and inspiration to engage in Talmud study.
Bekhorot 10
Rabbanit Michelle Farber
09.28.2026 | י״ז בתשרי תשפ״זStart Studying Talmud
Daf Yomi
Get ‘on the same page’ with Jews around the world on a daily basis.
Masechet
Select a section of the Talmud to suit your learning interests and schedule.
Beyond the Daf
Delve deep with weekly classes and podcasts from top women scholars.
Courses
Develop your Talmud study skills with self-paced online courses.
Masechet Sotah Challenge
Starting Monday, October 12th 2026
As we begin the new Jewish year, we invite you to challenge yourself and complete a masechet with us.
The Masechet Sotah Challenge is a focused learning program tailored to your personal schedule, designed to help you finish Masechet Sotah right at the end of 2026.
- 🎧 4 Days a Week: Receive a clear, structured daily shiur (Monday–Thursday).
- 💙 Completely Free: No cost to participate.
- 👥 Open to Everyone: Women and men, beginners and advanced learners alike.
Start with just one day, one page – and surprise yourself with what you can achieve
The Value of Studying Talmud
Talmud is the foundation of Jewish practice and thought. Talmud study opens the door to a richer understanding of Jewish tradition, empowering women who engage in this study to become more effective community leaders and role models.
In order to actualize this potential, Hadran is dedicated to ensuring that Talmud study is accessible to Jewish women of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels.
Resources
Talmud, Your Way
Experience Talmud with daily or weekly shiurim from top women scholars, each with a different focus and flavor. There’s something here for everyone.
Recently added
Daf Yomi
Beyond the Daf
Din & Daf
A Daf of Their Own
Flashback
Gefet
On Second Thought
Daf Yomi: One Week at a Time
Talking Talmud
Beyond the Daf (HE)
Suggested for you
Your history
Talmud, Your Way
Experience Talmud with daily or weekly shiurim from top women scholars, each with a different focus and flavor. There’s something here for everyone.
Daf Yomi
Bekhorot 10
Even though Rabbi Shimon and Rabbi Yehuda disagree regarding whether a firstborn donkey (peter chamor) is forbidden for benefit, Rabba maintains that Rabbi Shimon, who permits benefit prior to redemption, agrees that if the donkey was not redeemed and its neck was broken, it becomes forbidden for benefit. Rabba derives this law via a gezeira shava comparing the term “breaking the neck” (arifah) used here to that of an egla arufa, which is forbidden for benefit once its neck is broken.
Rabba attempts to prove his assertion from a braita concerning a dispute between the rabbis and Rabbi Shimon over several items regarding susceptibility to food impurity, including a firstborn donkey. In that braita, Rabbi Shimon holds it is not susceptible to food impurity, which Rabba infers as evidence that it is forbidden for benefit after its neck is broken. However, Rabba’s proof is rejected after two alternative explanations for the core debate in the braita are proposed, though ultimately both alternative interpretations are refuted as well. A further challenge is raised against Rabba from another braita, but this difficulty is successfully resolved.
Rav Huna supported Rabba’s ruling and cited two braitot to demonstrate that Rabbi Shimon considers the firstborn donkey forbidden for benefit after its neck is broken, yet both proofs are shown to be inconclusive. The Gemara then introduces a different version regarding how Rav Nachman’s opinion was framed, connecting it directly to a Mishna that discusses betrothing a woman with a firstborn donkey. An alternative version of the sugya pertaining to that Mishna is presented as well.
The opinion of Rabbi Yochanan (and some say Rabbi Elazar) is brought: he disagrees with Rabba and Rav Huna, holding that according to Rabbi Shimon, the donkey remains permitted for benefit even after its neck has been broken. Resh Lakish, however, agrees with the position of Rabba and Rav Huna.
Beyond the Daf
Chullin Daf 139-142 + Siyum-Daf Yomi: One Week at a Time
Beyond the Daf
Bekhorot 8: Dolphins, Mermaids, and Greek Philosophy
Daf Yomi
Bekhorot 7
Daf Yomi
Get ‘on the same page’ with Jews around the world on a daily basis.
Bekhorot 10
Bekhorot 7
Bekhorot 6
Bekhorot 5
Beyond the Daf
Explore relevant and thought-provoking topics that arise from the daf with fresh weekly Beyond the Daf content.
Chullin Daf 139-142 + Siyum-Daf Yomi: One Week at a Time
Bekhorot 8: Dolphins, Mermaids, and Greek Philosophy
Bekhorot 7: Can Kosher and Non-Kosher Animals Mate?
Essential or Transactional Holiness – קדושת הגוף או קדושת דמים?
Din & Daf
Conceptual Analysis of Halakha Through Case Study with Dr. Elana Stein Hain In each session, we will delve into conceptual explorations of halakhic phenomena.
Essential or Transactional Holiness – קדושת הגוף או קדושת דמים?
Levite/Kohenet Mothers and Their First Born Babies- Why No Pidyon Ha-ben?
When Chazal’s Science Does Not Match our Own – the Mud-Mouse
A Daf of Their Own
Thought-provoking Talmudic discussions in a friendly, accessible style with Rabbanit Shira Marili Mirvis and Rabbanit Hamutal Shoval
A Daf Of Their Own –Defining Your Identity
A Daf Of Their Own –The Kohen’s Garments
A Daf Of Their Own –Intent and Action
A Daf Of Their Own – Intro To Kodashim
A Daf Of Their Own – Ruler or Leader: King vs. President
Flashback
Flashback: a look into the reality of the Talmud. What was the time of the Talmud really like? How were the experiences different?
Gefet
Gemara, Perushim and Tosfot An in-depth (Iyun) Gemara shiur with Rabbanit Yael Shimoni and Shalhevet Schwartz Disclaimers: you do not have to be a daf learner to study Gefet. The texts are in Hebrew, the class teaching is in English. *In collaboration with Yeshivat Drisha
Spontaneous Generation: Chazal, Science, and Halacha
Nat bar Nat: What does “Dairy Equipment” Really Mean?
On Second Thought
On Second Thought: Delving Into the Sugya with Rabbanit Yafit Clymer
The Golden Menorah in the Temple: Means or Essence?
The Tabernacle and the Temple – which is more desired?
The Essence of the Incense and the Secret of the People
Spiritual Aspects of Korbanot: The Permission To Eat Meat
Daf Yomi: One Week at a Time
This shiur will allow you to connect to the worldwide phenomenon of Daf Yomi study, whether you learn the daf each day or just want to gain an overview of the entire Gemara.
Chullin Daf 139-142 + Siyum-Daf Yomi: One Week at a Time
Chullin Daf 132-138-Daf Yomi: One Week at a Time
Chullin Daf 125-131-Daf Yomi: One Week at a Time
Chullin Daf 118-124-Daf Yomi: One Week at a Time
Chullin Daf 111-117-Daf Yomi: One Week at a Time
Chullin Daf 105-110-Daf Yomi: One Week at a Time
Talking Talmud
A conversation on the daf yomi with Anne Gordon and Yardaena Osband
Bekhorot 8: Dolphins, Mermaids, and Greek Philosophy
Bekhorot 7: Can Kosher and Non-Kosher Animals Mate?
Bekhorot 3: Blemishes and Their Discontents
Beyond the Daf (HE)
Explore weekly shiurim in Hebrew covering the most thought-provoking topics that arise from the daf.
Suggested for you
Your history
Courses
Take a Course
Develop your Talmud study skills with free, self-paced online courses by experienced Gemara teachers. All courses are designed to be relevant for beginners, as well as more advanced learners.
Masechtot
Learn a Masechet
Take a personalized, self-paced trip through Talmud study by choosing a masechet (tractate) that matches your interests and schedule.
63 Dapim
31 Dapim
26 Dapim
30 Dapim
Support Women’s Talmud Study
Your donation to Hadran enables us to create more resources and to reach and inspire more women all over the world.
Sponsor a Daf
Dedicate a Hadran Daf Yomi shiur in memory of a loved one or in honor of a special individual.
Circle of Friends
We encourage all Hadran site users to support our programming. Empower us to empower you.
General Donation
Support Hadran to advance women’s Talmud study. We welcome and appreciate donations of any amount.
The Hadran Learners’ Tapestry
Meet the diverse women learning Gemara with Hadran.
Read their stories and add your own.
I started learning the daf during Covid. I’d always wanted to learn Talmud but that wasn’t an option for girls in the small town I grew up in and I struggled to help my younger kids with Hebrew homework let alone read a Hebrew text. I decided to start small by listening to the daf podcast on the way to work each morning. Then I joined the Long Island WhatsApp group. Now I go to the siyyums.
Shoshana Bazini
Long Island, United States
When I started studying Hebrew at Brown University’s Hillel, I had no idea that almost 38 years later, I’m doing Daf Yomi. My Shabbat haburah is led by Rabbanit Leah Sarna. The women are a hoot. I’m tracking the completion of each tractate by reading Ilana Kurshan’s memoir, If All the Seas Were Ink.
Hannah Lee
Pennsylvania, United States
Margo
I started my Talmud journey in 7th grade at Akiba Jewish Day School in Chicago. I started my Daf Yomi journey after hearing Erica Brown speak at the Hadran Siyum about marking the passage of time through Daf Yomi.
Carolyn
I started my Talmud journey post-college in NY with a few classes. I started my Daf Yomi journey after the Hadran Siyum, which inspired both my son and myself.
Carolyn Hochstadter and Margo Kossoff Shizgal
Merion Station, USA
Beit Shemesh, Israel
In July, 2012 I wrote for Tablet about the first all women’s siyum at Matan in Jerusalem, with 100 women. At the time, I thought, I would like to start with the next cycle – listening to a podcast at different times of day makes it possible. It is incredible that after 10 years, so many women are so engaged!
Beth Kissileff
Pittsburgh, United States
Ive been learning Gmara since 5th grade and always loved it. Have always wanted to do Daf Yomi and now with Michelle Farber’s online classes it made it much easier to do! Really enjoying the experience thank you!!
Lisa Lawrence
Neve Daniel, Israel
I started learning daf yomi at the beginning of this cycle. As the pandemic evolved, it’s been so helpful to me to have this discipline every morning to listen to the daf podcast after I’ve read the daf; learning about the relationships between the rabbis and the ways they were constructing our Jewish religion after the destruction of the Temple. I’m grateful to be on this journey!
Mona Fishbane
Teaneck NJ, United States
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